26th annual Latino Film Festival comes to Arcata

The annual International Latino Film Festival will take place at the Minor Theatre in Arcata from Feb. 24-26. This is a free event that will be open to all students and community members. The event is organized by Cal Poly Humboldt in collaboration with the CPH Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Professor Suzanne Pasztor of the history department, along with Matthew Dean and Alyssa Hughlett from the Department of World Languages and Cultures, are the staff members that are helping to facilitate this event. This year’s theme is “Women, Power, & Politics.” 

“All the films that we’ve chosen have to do with women living under authoritarian regimes,” Pasztor said. “Which seems very timely now that we seem to have what looks like a fairly authoritarian government in our country.”

Schedule of Films (6:00 p.m.-10:20 p.m.):

Monday 2/24 – “La Historia Oficial”

• This is an Argentine drama that is set in 1983, during Argentina’s last military dictatorship. It is the first Latin-American film to win Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars.  

Tuesday 2/25 – “In the Time of the Butterflies”

• This film is based on the historical fiction novel by Julia Alvarez. It is based on the lives of the Mirabal sisters who were Dominican revolutionary activists.

Wednesday 2/26 – “La Llorona”

• La Llorona is a Guatemalan horror film that is set in the background of an oppressive regime that has committed genocide to indigenous people. The movie focuses on a notorious former military general as he stands trial for the atrocities he has committed. 

The event begins at 6 p.m. with the keynote speaker, Dr. Jane Jaquette, who will be informing the audience of things to watch for and providing important historical context.  

“She is a professor emerita from Occidental College in Southern California. She is a specialist in women living in authoritarian regimes… She’s actually a political scientist, so comes at it from that direction,” said Pasztor, when describing Jaquette. 

After the films, there will be a panel discussion led by local community members about reactions to the film. 

As part of the film festival, students will be able to enroll in a one credit course through CPH (ES 396, HIST 396, Span 396). Students can reach out to the CPH Department of World Languages and Cultures via e-mail at wlc@humboldt.edu or by phone number at 707-826-3226 for more information.